Damián Píza Beltrán
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Damien Piza Beltran of Mexico worked as a stunt double for Johnny Weissmuller in the Tarzan films. Photo from the Sam Rockett collection
Antonio Abertondo, Jenny James, Brenda Fisher, Marie Hassen Hammad, Margaret Feather, William Edward Barnie, Jenny Kammersgard, Damien Piza Beltran, Baptista Pereira, Toufic Bleik, Mohamed El Soussi, Kenneth Wray, Major Jason Zirganos, Arthur Rizzo, Aldo Floravanti, Bob Paysour at the 1954 Billy Butlin International Channel Swim. Photo from the Sam Rockett collection
Damián Píza Beltrán was a Mexican open water swimmer whose nickname was The Tabasco Shark (El tiburón tabasqueño) and a night club singer. He wrote a book El tiburón tabasqueño: Damián Píza, primer mexicano que cruzó a nado el Canal de la Mancha en 1953 in 2004.
Open Water Swimming Highlights
- He was the first Mexican swimmer who crossed the 33.5 km English Channel from France to England, swimming in 15 hours 23 minutes at the age of 35 on 2 August 1953.
- He competed in the 33.5 km Billy Butlin International Channel Swim, swimming for 5 hours at the age of 36 on 21 August 1954.
- He competed in the 33.5 km Billy Butlin International Channel Swim, one of the four finishers in the race from France to England in 15 hours 8 minutes on 5 August 1955, piloted by John 'Jack' Burwill competing against Antonio Abertondo, Jenny James, Brenda Fisher, Marie Hassen Hammad, Margaret Feather, William Edward Barnie, Jenny Kammersgard, Baptista Pereira, Toufic Bleik, Mohamed El Soussi, Kenneth Wray, Major Jason Zirganos, Arthur Rizzo, Aldo Floravanti, Bob Paysour.
- He worked as a stunt double for Johnny Weissmuller in the Tarzan films.
1955 Race Results
The 1955 Billy Butlin Cross Channel International Swim was won by Egypt's Abdul Latif Abou Heif in 11 hours 44 minutes over America's Tom Park in 12 hours 2 minutes. The official results were as follows:
1. Abdul Latif Abou Heif (Egypt) 11 hours 44 minutes
2. Tom Park (USA) 12 hours 2 minutes
3. Syder Guiscardo (Argentina) 14 hours 33 minutes
4. Damián Píza Beltrán (Mexico) 15 hours 8 minutes
Video
